Sports Weekly's 100 Names You Need to Know for 2011

The latest edition of Sports Weekly has the obligatory wrapup of Super Bowl XLV, but also inside is the annual list of the 100 Names You Need to Know for the upcoming baseball season.

Paul White and I discuss the list in general in the video above and USATODAY.com is unveiling the names in groups of 10 in the Daily Pitch blog.

As Paul explains in the video, the list isn't limited to players who are technically rookies. Any player who spent less than a half season in the majors is eligible. And they're ranked according to the expected impact they'll have THIS season.

Among the many interesting nuggets:

Relievers are playing a larger role as teams seem to be more comfortable turning the game over in the late innings to their youngsters in the bullpen. In fact, the last two AL Rookies of the Year have been closers (Andrew Bailey and Neftali Feliz). Feliz was actually No. 1 on last year's 100 Names list -- and two more hard-throwing relievers, Aroldis Chapman of the Reds and Craig Kimbrel of the Braves, top this year's.

The Florida Marlins and Kansas City Royals tied for the most players on the list with seven apiece. The Florida contingent is led by outfielder Logan Morrison at No. 6. Morrison hit .283 in 244 at-bats for the Marlins last season and is expected to be the team's starting left fielder.

The Royals' top selection is left-hander John Lamb at No. 16. Lamb went a combined 10-7 with a 2.38 ERA and finished in Class AA last season. He's one of three Royals lefties to make the list.

The top hitter is Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman at No. 3. He has a clear path to the starting job in Atlanta this season after hitting .319 with 18 homers and 87 RBI a year ago at Class AAA.

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About Steve Gardner

Steve's been with USA TODAY in one form or another since 1993. He started
at USATODAY.com in 1996, becoming the website's baseball editor in 1999, and
has written the fantasy baseball column for Sports Weekly since 2006. Follow
him on Twitter: @sgardnerUSAT.